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Jean-Charles de Castelbajac

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Jean-Charles de Castelbajac's longevity has oft been dismissed as part of that particularly French affectation of revering as national icons that which pretty much the entire world has deemed irredeemably kitsch - in that respect he can perhaps be dubbed fashion's Johnny Halliday. Frankly, this is not without fair reason: his collection today was a classic romp through Castelbajac camp on a red-and-white minnie mouse polkadotted runway. Minnie herself made an appearance as a black-yoked red-bowed confection with comedy puffed sleeves, alonside gags like party hats, oversized sunglasses and a sequinned cigarillo (didn't really get that one, Jean). Unfortunately my decidedly dodgy camerawork didn't catch the riotous all-jiving disco dance finale, although the eye-popping colours give you the general gist. All very Castelbajac. Them again, when Giles is emblazoning sequinned shifts with Castelbajac-obean cartoon eyes and superstylist Katie Grand is heralding Minnie as a style icon, maybe his legacy should be reassed. Certainly the crush at the Carousel for his standing room only show and the opening of a London shop next month are ample indication of his enduring popularity, not just with the French. Carry On Castelbajac!